A few days ago, a friend of mine asked me why I help so much. I pondered on that question. Just where does my desire to help the needy come from? Is it my Christian values? Is it how I was raised? Is it my love for children?
I believe that it is all the above. However, above everything else, I believe that the desire to help stems from humanity. It is all about putting yourself in someone else's shoes and drawing empathy from that experience. Humanity cuts across any religious, educational, financial, or family background. So no one is exempted from it.
I believe that it is the responsibility of every single person on this earth to help the needy. So who is a needy person?
A needy person is simply a person who needs help. This person does not necessarily have to come from a children's home or the streets. A needy person can just as easily be your immediate neighbor, or a colleague, or a family member, or even a child in the neighborhood.
No one had an opportunity to choose where they came from. None of us chose our parents, families, or background. Therefore, if you are born into a good home, all you are is lucky. There is nothing you did to deserve that privilege of being born into a good/stable family. You are simply blessed. So how do you show that you are grateful?
You help those you can. How do you appreciate all that you are blessed with? You give, give, and after that, give some more.
I believe that giving is the only way to show that you are genuinely grateful for what you have.
Moreover, to whom much is given, much is expected. The more privileged you are, the more you are supposed to give. It, therefore, baffles me when people consider helping the needy an occasional event, a deed only reserved for the holidays. I believe that helping the needy is part and parcel of our daily duties and responsibilities. The same weight accorded to paying bills is the same seriousness that should be reflected in helping the needy.
I am cognizant of the fact that they are millions of people in the world who need help. It is easy to be overwhelmed with the number of needy people. You cannot reach millions, but you can reach one person.
So help the one you can! Just imagine the number of people we would help/reach if everyone in the world were to extend their help to their immediate neighbor!
